Internet Explorer 8 is now available

Microsoft has finally launched Internet Explorer 8.0 on 20-Mar-09. You can download it from it here

Internet Explorer 8 empowers content providers to create the richest, most dynamic experiences on the Web, extending the reach and value of online services. Whether you’re a developer, a systems integrator, or a sales and marketing professional, Internet Explorer 8 offers new possibilities for increasing revenue by building out solid solutions and service practice offerings.

Download Internet Explorer 8 and discover innovative features that help people browse faster easier, and safer than ever before.

Web Slice

A Web Slice is a navigation shortcut that can help eliminate the need to continually visit favorite websites to check for updates to e-mail, weather reports, sports scores, stock quotes, and other frequently modified content. When a Web Slice is available on a Web page, a green Web Slices icon appears in the upper-right hand corner of the browser. You can then subscribe to the Web Slice, and it will be added to the Favorites bar in your browser. When new information is available, the Web Slice is highlighted. Clicking on the highlighted Web Slice gives you a preview of the new information. You then have the option of clicking on the highlighted Web Slice to go directly to the other site to view the content.

Accelerators

Accelerators are a feature of Internet Explorer 8 that help you quickly perform your everyday browsing tasks without having to navigate to other websites to find the information you’re seeking. You can highlight text on any Web page and then click on the blue Accelerator icon for a list of available Accelerators that can instantly provide access to common web services. For example, if you need to find directions, you can highlight an address, click on an Accelerator, and view a map and directions, without having to cut and paste the address and open a new browser window.

Internet Explorer 8 Gallery?

The Internet Explorer 8 Gallery displays Web Slices, Accelerators, and other Internet Explorer add-ons that are currently available for use in customizing your Internet Explorer 8 browser. Everything featured in the Gallery is free for download and use. There is also no charge to submit an add-on to the Gallery.

The Internet Explorer Add-ons Gallery currently represents 19 languages across 22 locales. They are: US, Brazil, China (Chinese Simplified), Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, India (English), Israel (Hebrew), Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico (Spanish), Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan (Chinese Traditional), Turkey, UK.

Visual Search?

Internet Explorer 8 has teamed with top search providers such as Live Search, Wikipedia, Yahoo, and Amazon to deliver "visual search" images that provide you with immediate clickable results. For example, typing "Seattle weather" with Live Search will instantly show you a preview of the current weather directly in the Search Box drop-down.

Other new features of Internet Explorer 8?

New Internet Explorer 8 features include:

InPrivate Browsing: When activated, enables users to browse the Web without any evidence of searches or sites visited retained by the browser. InPrivate Filtering: Helps prevent third-parties that serve content on a Web page from tracking the user’s Web surfing activities. SmartScreen Filter: Helps protect against phishing Web sites, and sites known to distribute malware; helps detect and prevent “Click Jacking” which is a malicious technique of tricking web users into revealing confidential information. Enhanced “Find on this Page”: Enables users to find text on a Web page more easily, in a way that does not obscure any of the page’s content. Redesigned “New Tab” Page: Provides links to use an Accelerator, activate InPrivate browsing, reopen closed tabs, or restore the last browsing session. Enhanced Address Bar: Provides matches as the user types across History, Favorites, and RSS Feeds, searching against all parts of the URL string (and the page title) instead of just the beginning. Allows mistyped entries to be removed from the address bar. Enhanced Tabbed Browsing: Tabs are grouped and color-coded so user can quickly discern which are related. Users can easily group or ungroup tabs, and can reopen closed tabs.